How to Fix a YouTube Copyright Claim (Step-by-Step Guide)

Receiving a copyright claim on your YouTube video can be concerning. This guide will help you understand what a copyright claim is, how a claim affects your channel, and the steps you can take to resolve it ✅

Use our quick-link guide to jump right to the section you want to explore:

1. What is a YouTube copyright claim?
   • What happens when your video gets a claim
   • Copyright claim vs copyright strike
   • What are music copyright claims?
2. Should you worry about copyright claims?
   • Do copyright claims affect your channel?
   • Do they affect monetization?
   • Do they affect views?
   • Do they affect watch time?
3. How to fix a copyright claim
   • If you have a license or permission
   • How to handle fake copyright claims
   • If the content qualifies as Fair Use
   • Replace, erase, or mute the song (for audio claims)
   • How to dispute a copyright claim
4. How to prevent copyright claims on YouTube
   • Does giving credit protect you from claims?
   • How to get a sync license
   • Use copyright-safe music for your videos

What is a YouTube copyright claim?

A YouTube copyright claim happens when you upload a video that includes copyrighted content – like a song or video clip – that you don’t own or have permission to use.

YouTube’s automated system, Content ID, scans all videos uploaded to YouTube against a database of copyrighted files. When it detects a match, it places a copyright claim on the video and notifies the copyright owner, who can then choose how to address the use of their content.

A copyright claim doesn’t mean you’re in trouble, but it can impact how your video is viewed or monetized.

The owners of the copyrighted content have invested their time and money into making the song or video and they have the right to decide how and when their content is used. YouTube Content ID simply allows copyright holders to protect and manage their copyrighted content across YouTube.

💡 Did you know? It’s important to distinguish between a copyright claim and a copyright strike. A claim typically affects monetization or viewability, whereas a strike is a more serious action that can lead to penalties, including channel termination if multiple strikes are accumulated.

What happens when my video gets a copyright claim?

If your video receives a copyright claim, you may receive an email from YouTube that looks like this:

[YouTube] A copyright claim was created for content in “Your Video Title”

And you will probably see a notice in your YouTube Studio dashboard with the copyright claim information and details:

When your video receives a copyright claim on YouTube, it means that Content ID has identified copyrighted content (like music or a segment of a video) in your video that belongs to someone else.

This claim doesn’t automatically result in a copyright strike or channel penalty, but it can affect your video in the following ways.

🎯 The Copyright Owner Can Choose to:

• Monetize your video: Ads may run on your video, and the copyright owner will receive the revenue.
• Track your video’s performance: The copyright owner allows your video to stay up, but they will monitor analytics.
• Block your video: In some cases, your video might be blocked entirely or in certain countries.
• Mute the audio: The copyrighted audio could be removed from or muted in your video.

The most common scenario is that the copyright owner decides to monetize your video. This means that you, as the video uploader, can no longer monetize the video yourself. And because you don’t have the permissions or license to use the copyrighted song or content, that’s a pretty fair deal. Your video will still be viewable by your followers and your channel is still in perfectly good standing on YouTube.

In extreme cases, the copyright owners may remove your video completely with a takedown notice (or copyright strike), which you will read more about below.

⚠️ What You Can’t Do with a claim

If your video receives a copyright claim, this means that:

• You may not be able to monetize the video yourself.
• You likely won’t be able to remove the claim unless you:
  1. Dispute it
  2. Replace or mute the copyrighted content
  3. Get permission or a proper license

💡 Did you know? Sites like YouTube are required to provide copyright owners with copyright removal tools (like takedowns) in order to comply with copyright law.

Is a Copyright Claim the Same as a Copyright Strike on My Channel?

No, a copyright claim is not the same as a copyright strike. Understanding the distinction is crucial for managing your YouTube channel effectively.

🧐 How is a copyright claim different from a strike?

Copyright claims mean that a copyright owner has decided to either monetize, track, or block your video in certain territories. It is not a penalty on your entire YouTube channel.

Copyright strikes are official legal takedown requests from the copyright owner that are filed against your content. This takedown requests result in the video being removed from YouTube completely and a strike being put on your YouTube channel.

💡 Key Differences: Copyright Claim vs. Copyright Strike

	✅ Copyright Claim	❌ Copyright Strike
How it’s triggered	Automatically by YouTube’s Content ID system or by a manual claim	Manually filed by the copyright owner
Legal status	Not a legal complaint	Official DMCA takedown request
Impact on video	Video may be monetized, tracked, or blocked in some regions	Video is removed from YouTube
Impact on channel	No strike; the claim doesn’t affect your channel standing	Strike added to your channel; may lead to feature loss
Impact on revenue	Uploader can not monetize. Revenue goes to the copyright owner if they apply a monetization claim	No monetization – video is taken down
Resolution options	Dispute the claim, mute/replace content, or get a license	Wait 90 days, request retraction, or submit a counter-notification
Risk of channel termination	None	3 strikes = channel termination 🚨

💡 Did you know? If you receive three copyright strikes, your entire channel and all videos may be permanently removed. You could also lose the ability to create new YouTube channels. For detailed information on copyright strikes, refer to YouTube’s official Copyright Strike Basics.

What are music copyright claims?

A music copyright claim happens when a video you upload to YouTube includes a song (or even just a snippet of a song) that is owned by someone else.

Music is one of the most common causes of copyright claims on YouTube. Why? Because songs often appear in intros, background tracks, transitions, and other creative edits to help elevate a video’s quality and make the content come alive.

YouTube’s Content ID system scans every uploaded video for copyrighted music. If a match is found, a copyright claim is automatically issued on behalf of the music’s owner.

🎵 Who owns a song or music copyright?

Every song has a least one owner, but more often, multiple owners. First, there are the individuals who wrote the song and control the composition (the people who wrote the lyrics as well as the track itself). Then there are the people who own the actual recording of the song, the master or sound recording. These people are often either record labels or the artists themselves.

Here’s a quick overview of the two types of copyrights that each song has:

Type of Copyright	Who Owns It	What It Covers
Composition copyright	Songwriters, publishers	Lyrics and melody (the written song)
Master recording	Artist, producer, label, distributor	The actual audio recording of the song

🎤 Let’s look at some examples of how music copyrights work:

Let’s say Joe and Emma co-write a song called “Triangle.”

• Emma & Joe share the composition rights (lyrics + melody).
• Emma records the track with her own money. She owns the master recording (possibly with her producer depending on their agreement).

Later, Emma signs with a label and she & Joe write another song called “Square.”

• Joe and Emma still share composition rights.
• The label owns the master recording because they funded production, mastering, and distribution.

Alternatively, Emma could release a song independently through a distributor like DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby. In that case:

• The composition rights are shared by the writers of the song.
• Emma keeps ownership of the master recording and music.
• The distributor administers the sound recording and may issue Content ID claims to protect it on YouTube. They do not take any ownership of the song’s copyrights.

⚠️ Why You Get a Music Copyright Claim

If your video contains that recorded song (whether your video’s background music or a song that plays for a few seconds during the intro or outro) YouTube’s Content ID system may detect it and apply a music copyright claim.

Most music claims come from:

• Record labels (such as: UMG, Sony, Warner)
• Music distributors (such as: DistroKid, TuneCore, or FUGA)
• Rights management platforms acting on behalf of artists

✅ Pro Tip: To avoid music copyright claims, use songs that are properly licensed. Thematic offers claim-free music curated for creators (no takedowns, no stress 🎶).

Should I worry about copyright claims?

You should not necessarily worry about copyright claims, but you should understand what they mean for both your videos and your YouTube channel.

If your YouTube video includes copyrighted content that you don’t have permission to use (like music or video content), you should expect that your video may receive a copyright claim. This is not a penalty on your channel – it is simply a way for the copyright owner to control how and where their content is being featured.

But while copyright claims don’t hurt your channel’s standing, they can affect your video’s performance, including monetization, views, and watch time. With that in mind, let’s dig in to some of the different ways your videos and channel may be affected by copyright claims.

💡 Do Copyright Claims Affect My Channel?

No, a copyright claim does not harm your channel status or result in a strike. The claim applies only to the video where the copyrighted content was detected.

• Your channel remains in good standing (even with multiple claims on one video or claims across several different videos).
• Claims do not impact your eligibility for monetization, the YouTube Partner Program, or YouTube’s algorithms for search & discovery.

📌 Think of a claim as a video-specific flag, not a channel-wide penalty.

💰 Do Copyright Claims Affect Monetization?

Yes, when your video receives a copyright claim, you lose the ability to monetize that video.

YouTube requires that you own (or have licenses for) all of the content featured in your videos. So when your video receives a copyright claim, you can no longer monetize that video.

• When a copyright claim is placed:
  • The copyright owner can monetize your video by placing ads on it.
  • You won’t receive any ad revenue from that video.

📌 Even if your video content is original, playing even a few seconds of a copyrighted song can trigger a claim and shift revenue to the rights holder.

📉 Do Copyright Claims Affect Views?

Yes, especially if your video is blocked in certain regions, on specific devices, or on third-party websites.

The copyright owner can choose to:

• Restrict playback on mobile devices or embedded websites
• Block your video in certain countries

If your audience is located in any of the blocked territories, or if you rely on views from editorial blogs or embedded players, you may notice a drop in views as a result.

⏱️ Do Copyright Claims Affect Watch Time?

Yes, copyright claims may indirectly affect the watch time of your channel.

If a claim reduces the availability of your video (through regional blocks or site & device restrictions), your video’s watch time may drop. Fewer views = less watch time.

Keep in mind:

• The watch time your video does generate still counts toward your channel’s watch time total.
• A copyright claim doesn’t disqualify your watch time from YouTube monetization requirements.

✅ TL;DR Impact of Copyright Claims

Impact Area	Does a Copyright Claim Affect It?
Channel status	❌ No
Monetization	✅ Yes – you lose ad revenue
Video views	⚠️ Possibly – if region/device restrictions are applied
Watch time	⚠️ Possibly – indirect result of reduced availability

🎶 Avoid claims with licensed music from platforms like Thematic that are built for creators and safe for YouTube.

How to fix a copyright claim on YouTube

If your video received a copyright claim, don’t panic. There are several ways to resolve the claim, depending on the situation.

🔍 Start here: Review the type of content that was claimed, and identify which of the following scenarios applies to your video.

If none of the sections apply and you simply do not have any permission use the claimed content in your video, you may want to just accept the copyright claim on your video or remove the video entirely and re-upload it with cleared content. (Learn how to prevent future music claims 👉).

✅ You Have a License or Permission

If you have permission to use the copyrighted content (such as a music license), you can dispute the claim.

This type of claim is super frustrating, especially since you’ve done the pre-work and made sure you had the proper permissions to use the content and just want to share your video. Unfortunately, this results in your video being claimed, and it’s up to you to fix the problem by submitting a copyright claim dispute.

What’s likely happening:

• The copyright owner is using Content ID to scan for usage.
• They may not know you are a licensed user, so the system flags your video by default.

How to handle it:

• Submit a dispute through YouTube Studio (see instructions below).
• Reference your license agreement in your explanation.
• Contact the platform, company, or person where you got the license (such as the label, distributor, sync service, or the artist/copyright owner directly).

If all goes according to plan, the claim should be released and monetization on your video will be restored. Any monies earned while the claim was in a “dispute” status will be paid out to you, as well.

✅ Pro Tip: Many licenses are single-use only. If this is your second upload using the same track, check if your license covers it.

🚩 You Received a Fake Copyright Claim

If the claimed content doesn’t exist in your video, it may be a false or abusive claim and you should dispute it.

For example, if you own 100% of the own audio in your video but you receive a copyright claim for a song that does not play or appear in your video, this may be a fake copyright claim. Since the copyrighted content does not appear in your video, it is not correct for the copyright owner to claim your video.

How to handle it:

• Check your Copyright notice in YouTube Studio to double-check the timestamps and flagged content.
• If the content isn’t in your video, file a dispute and explain clearly that the claim is incorrect.

Frustrating? Yes, of course. But solvable. If the copyright claim is completely false, 100% not true, and you can definitely prove it, dispute the claim and explain that the claim was made in error. You may have been a victim of Content ID abuse and your video should not have been claimed. Period.

✅ Pro Tip: YouTube Studio shows exact timestamps where claimed content appears. Use this to verify the claim’s accuracy.

⚖️ Your Video May Qualify as Fair Use

If you used copyrighted material for commentary, education, or criticism, your usage may fall under Fair Use.

Fair Use is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission – but it’s complex and varies by situation.

We recommend reviewing these trusted resources for more information on Fair Use:

• YouTube’s Guide to Fair Use
• Interactive Fair Use Checklist from The Ohio State University’s Health Sciences Library
• Printable Fair Use Checklist from Columbia University Libraries’ Copyright Advisory Office

⚠️ We do not provide legal advice. Always consult legal counsel if you’re unsure.

🎵 Replace, Erase, or Mute the Song (Audio Claims Only)

If you received an audio copyright claim, YouTube may provide you with options to replace, erase, or mute the song in your video (or trim out that section of your video completely).

Options available in YouTube Studio:

• Replace the song using YouTube’s Audio Library (you will not be able to select a different song from your computer)
• Mute the song during the claimed section (not ideal – this removes all audio from this section of your video).
• Trim this section of your video (both he video & audio portion of your video would be removed).
• Erase song (newest option): removes just the music but keeps your voice or sound effects (this may not work well if music overlaps with other sounds.)

If you choose to move forward with one of these options, the copyright claim will be removed from your video and you will be able to monetize your video again (if your channel is eligible for monetization).

How do I dispute a copyright claim on YouTube?

If you believe the copyright claim is incorrect (or you have permission) you can file a claim dispute directly in your YouTube Studio dashboard.

To dispute a YouTube copyright claim (step-by-step):

1. Go to your YouTube Studio
2. Click on Content from the left side menu.
3. Find the video with the claim
4. Click Copyright then See Details from the Restrictions column.
5. Click Take Action
6. Select Dispute and follow the prompts to file your dispute.

You will find all of the information about the copyright claim specifics on this Copyright pop-up. Here you will be able to see:

• What content is being claimed
• Who made the claim
• How it affects your video’s monetization and visibility
• Exact timestamps of the claimed content

✅ Pro Tip: Make your dispute explanation clear, factual, and include proof (license details, ownership, etc.).

Can I prevent copyright claims on my videos?

Yes! You can prevent copyright claims on YouTube by using only music and content you’re fully licensed to use.

Understanding copyright claims is step one. The next step is to avoid copyright claims entirely so you can focus on creating, not filing disputes or losing monetization.

❌ Does Giving Credit Prevent Copyright Infringement?

No. Simply giving credit in your video description does not protect you from copyright claims or legal action.

Even if an artist verbally gives you “permission,” it’s not valid unless:

• They own 100% of the song (both the composition and master), and
• You have a written license from them or their team or record label
  

To be able to use copyrighted songs or content in YouTube videos, you will need a license or official permission to use it from all relevant copyright owners of the song.

💡 Reminder: Most songs have multiple copyright holders (including songwriters, producers, publishers, and labels). You need permission from all of the copyright owners to use the song legally in your videos.

🎯 What Is a Sync License (and Why Do You Need One)?

To legally use music in your YouTube videos, you need a synchronization license (or sync license).

A sync license is a contract that details:

• Which song you’re using
• How it will be used in your video
• Who owns the rights to the song
• What you’re offering in return (like payment or promotion)

Here’s a link to a sample sync license for reference.

How to get one of these fancy, sync licenses? Well, if you’re doing it yourself, it can be complex, time-consuming, and often very expensive.

Getting a sync license manually can involve:

• Contacting all copyright holders
• Negotiating terms
• Drafting contracts
• Waiting for everyone to sign

At that point, and at that point only, will you be able to upload your video featuring that song in your video without worry.

Alternatively, consider using royalty-free production music libraries or platforms like Thematic, which handle the sync licensing for you and offer pre-cleared music for creators, reducing the risk of copyright claims.

“This whole license process sounds like a lot of work.”

Yeah, I know. It is. I’ve see the painful back-and-forths, the 20 email long thread with managers and artists and labels and publishers, the expensive license fees required by companies, the claims on videos even though you have permission, and… it’s pretty terrible, if we’re all being honest here.

Other Claim-Free Music Options

In addition to licensing music through services like Thematic, you can also explore:

• Public domain music: Music that is no longer under copyright protection and can be used freely.
• Creative Commons music: Music shared by artists who allow reuse under certain conditions (usually requiring attribution).
• Music from YouTube Audio Library: A collection of royalty free production music that are copyright-safe for video creators.

⚠️ Always check the specific license terms! Some CC tracks restrict commercial use or require linking back to the creator.

✅ The Easy Way: Use Music from Thematic

At Thematic, we’ve made sync licensing simple, safe, and free – for creators. Thematic offers an entire selection of royalty free and copyright safe music for you to use in your videos for free.

With Thematic, you get:

• Access to high-quality music from rising artists
• Full protection from copyright claims and strikes
• A faster, frustration-free workflow

It’s simple, because Thematic handles all of the sync licensing for you. You don’t have to worry about tracking down and emailing back and forth with the copyright owners (sometimes also called copyright holders). We think you should be spending your time creating and sharing great content, not drowning in paperwork.

It’s safe, because you will not be claimed for using the music. Seriously. With Thematic, your videos remain claim-free and copyright-free so long as you include the provided artist promotion in your video description.

And, it’s free. We don’t believe in charging creators antiquated, expensive rates just to use 45 seconds of a song in their video. You’re getting the word out and helping provide exposure and reach to artists who are looking for just that.

With Thematic, you get to use a wide selection of songs from the best new music artists. And you no longer have to worry about copyright claims, disputes, or strikes against your videos.

Want to use music in your videos without risking a copyright claim?

Join Thematic to access claim-free tracks for creators.

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Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

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